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Educate, Empower, Lead

FREE A GIRL & MALALA FUND

EDUCATING GIRLS AS FUTURE LEADERS, FIGHTING CHILD PROSTITUTION

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is widespread in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Girls make up the majority of identified victims. Factors such as poverty, lack of education, as well as the subordinate position of girls increase their vulnerabilities.

Malala Fund, co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and Free a Girl, have joined forces to turn this around. The three year programme, Educate, Empower, Lead (2017-2020), funded by the Nationale Postcode Loterij, will empower and provide educational support to girls who are at risk of, or who have been survivors of CSEC in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Through this programme, girls will be able to find their voice and stand up for their rights.

BACKGROUND

Co-founded by Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist, student and youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Fund is working for a world where all girls can learn and lead without fear. Malala Yousafzai began speaking out for girls’education at the age of 11. At age 15, she was shot by the Taliban for speaking out for the rights of girls in her community to go to school. Malala recovered, continued her campaign and is building a global movement of support for girls’ education. Learn more at malala.org.

The Educate, Empower, Lead programme is an expansion of the successful Stand #withMalala campaign, which was implemented by Free a Girl and Malala Fund partners throughout India in 2016.

OBJECTIVES

The Educate, Empower Lead Programme will empower and provide educational support to girls who are at risk or victims of CSEC in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

This will be achieved by:

Strengthening the empowerment of girls through building their self-esteem and leadership and advocacy skills, and raising awareness on the importance of education.

Enabling access to education and educational materials as well as other essential rehabilitation services for girls who are victims of CSEC.

Engaging governments at all levels and other stakeholders and networks to advocate for effective support for education for girls, particularly girls who are at risk or victims of CSEC.

DURATION

The Educate, Empower Lead Programme will run from 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2020.

RESULTS

The Programme has just started. The first results will be published as soon as possible.

“As an ambassador of Free a Girl, I support the fight against child prostitution. ”

Wesley Sneijder

Ambassador

“I have a strong sense of justice. That's why I put myself out there for these young girls in India. When I heard about the misery in the brothels of India, and that girls were being abused there, I knew I had to do something.”